BILL NUMBER: AB 1617	CHAPTERED  08/27/99

	CHAPTER   242
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   AUGUST 27, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   AUGUST 26, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 16, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   MAY 25, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 24, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 15, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Havice

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act relating to foreign trade.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1617, Havice.  Trade and Commerce Agency:  international trade:
  report and plan.
   Existing law sets forth the duties of the Trade and Commerce
Agency in the development of foreign trade opportunities in the
state, including the oversight of overseas trade offices through the
California Office of Foreign Trade in the agency.
   This bill would require the agency, with input from the academic,
private, and public sectors, to review the state's international
trade programs and prepare and submit to the Governor and the
Legislature both a report of its findings and a plan for improving
the coordination, cost effectiveness, and capability of the state's
international trade programs to increase the state's international
competitiveness.  The bill would specify that the agency shall not
expend any amount in excess of $50,000 for the one-time, additional
costs that may result from the implementation of these provisions.
The bill would require the report and plan to be submitted to the
Governor and the Legislature within 90 days of the effective date of
this bill.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government
Code, the Trade and Commerce Agency, with input from the academic,
private, and public sectors, including the California Research Bureau
of the California State Library, the State Auditor, and the
Legislative Analyst, shall review the state's international trade
programs and prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature
both a report of its findings and a plan for improving the
coordination, cost effectiveness, and capability of the state's
international trade programs to increase the state's international
competitiveness.  The review shall include all of the following:
   (1) An in-depth analysis of the relative viability and cost
effectiveness of the state's current and future international trade
offices as trade promotion tools.
   (2) Consideration and analysis of the comparative cost
effectiveness of alternative methods of international trade
promotion, such as targeted trade missions.
   (3) Recommendations for removing international trade barriers as
part of improving trade relations with the state's international
trading partners.
   (b) The report and plan required by subdivision (a) shall be
submitted to the Governor and the Legislature within 90 days of the
effective date of this act.
   (c) The Trade and Commerce Agency shall not expend any amount in
excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the one-time,
additional costs that may result from the implementation of this act.
